"The young lady has been acting rather strangely lately!"
The maid stood with her hands clasped, reporting to Nan Chaoyin the peculiar behavior of Nan Yuan'er.
"Every day, the young lady throws things and throws tantrums, sometimes in the morning, sometimes at night. She's always shouting, telling someone to get out. Each episode lasts for about an hour, after which she calms down."
A flicker of fear was hidden in the maid's eyes. Ever since the mansion was rumored to be haunted a while back, the servants had become jumpy, attributing every rustle and creak to vengeful spirits. The young lady's actions had already sparked whispers among the staff, who murmured that the mansion was unclean, that the young lady had encountered something malevolent and was possessed.
"Has a doctor been consulted?"
"Yes, a doctor said the young lady was merely agitated and there was no serious illness."
Nan Chaoyin frowned slightly. His sole requirement for Nan Yuan'er was to live stably, to survive until she was brought into the palace, and to bear offspring for Ji Hong.
Anything else was inconsequential.
Suppressing his annoyance, Nan Chaoyin told the maid, "In that case, just take good care of the young lady."
"Yes, this subordinate understands."
The maid understood the unspoken directive in Nan Chaoyin's words: as long as the person was alive, even if she had gone mad, the news was to be kept within the courtyard until the young lady was taken to the imperial city.
...
Time flew by.
Today was sunny, auspicious for weddings and construction, favorable for all endeavors.
Ji Hong had chosen a propitious date for Nan Yujin and Hui An. Early this morning, the wedding procession departed from the Nan mansion, with music and festivities, heading towards the post station.
Nan Yujin, clad in a red robe, sat astride a majestic horse, exuding an elegant and handsome demeanor. Hundreds of people followed behind him, their grand procession stretching from one end of the street to the other, creating a formidable spectacle that drew the attention of the townspeople.
The betrothal gifts alone numbered a hundred.
The onlookers enjoyed the spectacle, discussing how the marriage alliance, delayed for nearly half a year, had finally concluded. After the groom received the bride, the crowd carried the sedan chair, making a circuit around the capital's moat before proceeding to the Nan mansion.
Upon entering the residence, the townspeople dispersed.
Officials offered their congratulations, and the mansion was bustling with visitors.
Before the ceremonies began, the Emperor arrived.
Ji Hong presided over the wedding, bestowing great honor upon the Da Li dynasty.
He did not linger, merely partaking in a cup of wine before returning to the palace under the escort of the imperial guards.
Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo had not made an appearance from beginning to end. Just as the Emperor had shown great courtesy to the Nan mansion, the Prince and Princess had shown Nan Chaoyin equal disdain.
The festivities continued until late into the night. Nan Yujin, thoroughly inebriated, was helped by servants into the bridal chamber.
"Madam, how could you lift the bridal veil yourself?"
The experienced governess of the Nan mansion chided Hui An. How could the bride lift the red veil on her wedding night? It was meant to be lifted by the groom with a jade ruyi scepter, signifying a harmonious and fulfilling union. It was considered inauspicious and highly improper for the bride to lift it herself.
Hui An tilted her chin slightly, smiling as she picked up the peanuts from the bed, symbols of having children early. She cracked open the shells and put the kernels into her mouth.
"Madam!"
The governess was flustered.
Hui An raised an eyebrow, her gaze falling upon the governess, and said with a smile, "Are you reprimanding me, governess?"
The governess's expression stiffened, but she still said, "Since Princess entered the Nan mansion, she should have changed her address. I was merely..."
Hui An stood up and threw the peanut shells in her hand onto the governess's face.
"My husband and I will not be staying in the capital for long, so it would be best if you did not lecture me on rules, governess. After all, it is not difficult to dismiss a servant. I imagine even Lord Nan would give me this courtesy, wouldn't he?"
Hui An said, dusting the peanut shell fragments from her hands. "That's enough. I am tired. If you have nothing else, governess, please leave. Do not be an eyesore here."
"Yes, this servant takes her leave!"
The governess's face was ashen, but she dared not say anything more and could only bow her head and retreat.
Hui An turned, looking at Nan Yujin, who was slumped on the bed like a puddle of mud. She removed her hairpin, her raven-black hair cascading smoothly over her shoulders. She walked to the bedside and patted Nan Yujin's shoulder. "I've sent the governess away. Are you still going to pretend, young master Nan?"
The man, who had been murmuring in his drunken stupor, slowly opened his eyes. Nan Yujin sat up abruptly. He had expected to see a Hui An Princess who wished to devour his flesh and drink his blood, to have him drawn and quartered, on this wedding night. However, her current calm and collected demeanor completely defied his expectations.
"Young Master Nan thought I would hate you?"
Hui An smiled. Her eyes were already deep-set, and a smile from her was as astonishing as a rose suddenly in bloom. Nan Yujin had never observed her so closely, nor had he ever truly looked at her.
"Yes."
Nan Yujin nodded. He had indeed thought Hui An would hate him.
"I do not hate you."
"Whether it was you or someone else, it would have made no difference."
Hui An spoke with a calm indifference, as if recounting something that happened to someone else, not to herself. Nan Yujin recalled the look in her reddened eyes that day, and a realization dawned upon him. It seemed her anger and resentment back then were all an act.
Hui An seemed to discern Nan Yujin's thoughts. She said, "I truly wanted to kill you that day. After all, there is a difference between choosing a husband and being forced to marry someone after being schemed against."
Nan Yujin rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward at having his thoughts exposed.
On this wedding night, neither of them had any intention of consummating the marriage. Nan Yujin took a new set of bedding from the wardrobe and spread it by the bed.
He slept on the floor, and Hui An slept on the bed.
Before sleeping, Hui An used a hairpin to prick her finger and dripped blood onto the bedsheet. Nan Yujin paused slightly, then understood what it meant. His expression remained unchanged. Although Nan Yujin had not been married, he had taken serving maids after coming of age and understood such matters. He felt no shyness or awkwardness. He was simply not as meticulous as Hui An and had not considered this aspect.
The streets remained lively. On a temporarily erected platform, couplets were displayed, with the first line of each couplet presented. Matching a couplet earned a small gift like a handkerchief or a bamboo basket. Matching five earned a hairpin or a jade pendant. Matching all of them would earn a gold ingot.
A crowd of townspeople gathered below the platform, watching the scholars and beauties on stage, speculating who would win the prize today.
In a private room on the second floor of Guangfu Tower.
Nan Shiying reclined lazily by the window, observing the crowded streets outside. She picked up a piece of yam cake and put it into her mouth. The sour taste spread, causing Nan Shiying to close one eye. Her mouth watered, and she swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Only after the sourness of the yam cake subsided could she speak. "My lord, do you think tonight will be peaceful?"
If trouble had arisen during the Lantern Festival, what about today?
Ji Jinmo handed her a teacup. Nan Shiying took the cup and looked up at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo stood beside her, his gaze falling upon the bustling street. His voice, as always, was clear and low. "It's not important."
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow.
Indeed, it was not important.
It would be better if they jumped out from the shadows, rather than hiding like vermin in a gutter, afraid to show their faces.
As midnight approached, Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo returned to their mansion. The bustling streets gradually grew quiet. Li Hao, who had been holding his breath, quietly let out a sigh of relief.